Greek-flagged shipping tanker attacked by Houthis now leaking oil: Pentagon

The Greek-flagged crude oil tanker, Sounion, continues to blaze in the Red Sea and is now leaking oil, according to a Pentagon spokesperson on Tuesday. The vessel carrying about one million barrels of crude oil was attacked last week by multiple projectiles near Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah.

Houthi attacks and regional tensions

The Houthis, a Yemen-based group aligned with Iran, claimed responsibility for the assault, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The group has been targeting ships in the Red Sea as part of their broader conflict.

According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, the attack on the Sounion was due to a violation of their ban on entry to “occupied Palestine.”

This incident marks the third attack this month on vessels operated by Athens-based Delta Tankers. Despite the onboard fire being extinguished by the crew, the vessel remains severely impacted.

Pentagon spokesman Air Force maj gen Patrick Ryder condemned the attack as "reckless acts of terrorism. He said, “These are simply reckless acts of terrorism which continue to destabilise global and regional commerce, put the lives of innocent civilian mariners at risk and imperil the vibrant maritime ecosystem in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Houthis’ own backyard,”

US Military and environmental concerns

Ryder added that the US military is collaborating with regional partners to assist the vessel and address potential environmental impacts.

Background Ofthe Houthis

Led by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthis are an Iran-backed Shia rebel group that has been in conflict with Yemen’s government for nearly two decades. They currently control Yemen’s northwest and its capital, Sanaa.

(With inputs from agencies)